Joe McConnell
Katie Boulter lost nine straight matches before being eliminated in the first round of the Cincinnati Open, the British number one losing 2-6 6-0 7-5 to Poland’s Magda Linette.
Boulter started the match superbly, breaking Linette twice early on to take a 4-0 lead and take the first set.
But, suddenly, from a position of such dominance, Boulter would win just eight points in the entire second set, as Linette eliminated the Briton within 25 minutes, levelling the match.
The Pole, ranked 43rd in the world (13 places below Boulter), maintained her dominance in the third set, quickly securing her fourth consecutive break to take a 3-0 lead.
Boulter would stage a mini comeback after finally breaking the slump in the fourth game, then rallying to level the score at 4-4 in the decider, before saving two match points when trailing 5-4.
But Linette would convert her third match point two games later to avoid a deciding tie-break, and will now face either No. 10 seed Liudmila Samsonova or Wang Xinyu in the second round.
Musetti and Tiafoe face each other in the second round
In the men’s draw, Wimbledon semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti and American Frances Tiafoe produced a thrilling second round after both came through their opening matches of the tournament.
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Frances Tiafoe defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in straight sets to secure a spot in the round of 32 at the Cincinnati Open.
Musetti, the 14th seed, defeated Nicolas Jarry, with the Italian managing to come back to win 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4), while Tiafoe had an easier time facing Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3 7-6 (8-6).
American No. 12 seed Ben Shelton also overcame compatriot Reilly Opelka in three sets, triumphing 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-3) after prevailing in a pair of tie-breaks.
What’s happening on Vscek Tennis?
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- Cincinnati Open (ATP 1000) – August 12-19
- Cincinnati Open (WTA 1000) – August 13-19
- Winston-Salem Open (ATP 250) – August 18-24
- Tennis in the Land, Cleveland (WTA 250) – August 18-24
- GNP Seguros Open, Monterrey (WTA 500) – August 19-24
- US Open (ATP/WTA) – August 26 – September 8
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